Independent TD Mr Jackie Healy-Rae was replaced by his son, Mr Danny Healy-Rae, on Kerry County Council yesterday, after an unbroken 30 years as a county councillor.
There were warm tributes to Mr Healy-Rae's unique contribution to council debates from councillors and officials.
Mr Healy-Rae was first elected in the Killarney Electoral Area in 1974, after being co-opted in 1973, topping the poll on his first outing as a Fianna Fáil councillor. In 1999 as an independent, he topped the poll again, 1,200 votes clear of the quota and of his nearest rival, Cllr Tom Fleming (FF).
His son, Cllr Michael Healy-Rae, who represents the Killorglin area on the council, said it was both a sad and a happy day for the family.
If the intention of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour and the bigger parties was "to weaken the base of the independents" with the ending of the dual mandate, it would not work with the Healy-Rae organisation, the new councillor, Mr Danny Healy-Rae (48), a publican and a plant-hire contractor, said in his inaugural speech. "We now have an extra man," he said of his co-option to replace his father because of the ending of the dual mandate.
He was particularly proud of his father's "never say die" attitude, he said. Planning issues, the cutting of hedges on country roads, and cheaper insurance would be among his priorities.
Warm tributes were paid to Mr Jackie Healy-Rae and his unique style of delivery by councillors. Mayor BreandáMacGearailt (FF) said there was now a "triumvirate" of Healy-Raes in politics in south Kerry and Jackie was always "a man for all seasons".
Cllr Brian O Leary (FF) said the council would certainly be "a less colourful place without him", while former TD, Cllr Denis Foley (FF) said he had seen no harder worker and when he was director of elections in Fianna Fáil, it was a pleasure to work with him. He had been the epitome of a councillor, his language was simple and direct and he brought light and logic to complex debate, Cllr Billy Leen (Ind) said. Mr Danny Healy-Rae was proposed by his brother Michael and seconded by Cllr Michael Connor-Scarteen (FG).